Refrigerator



Jan. 16, 11923.

E; R. QTOMPKINS. REFRIGERATOR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FILED MAR. 25, 1921 ATTORNEY FIG]; 5

WRTNESSES Jan. 16, 1923..

E. R. TOMPKINS.

REFRIGERATOR Fl LED MAR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Jan. I ltd, 1923.

warren stares EDWARD RAY TOMPKINS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 25, 1921. Serial No. 455,477.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ED\VARD R. Tonn KINS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visc-onsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The invention relates to that type of cooling apparatus in which the outside air is used as a cooling agent.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an air inlet of a novel construction associated with a storage box or receptacle for food. More particularly, this inlet construction permits of regulation of the flow of air and a proper filtering of the air on its passage to the storage receptacle.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an apparatus embodying the invention, showing the same applied to a brick dwelling; Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1 showing the apparatus applied to a stucco finished dwelling; Fig. 3 is a view of the device from inside the dwelling; Fig. 4 is an outside view of the apparatus; Fig. 5 is an expanded view of thefiltering element; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the device applied to an outside icing door; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the device applied to an ice-box, kitchen cabinet or other receptacle.

Tn the different installations herein shown, a louver 8, a register 9 and a filtering device 10 are used in combination.

The louver 8 is preferably formed from sheet metal having pressed -out louver boards or slat portions 11 protecting the openings 12 and having an inwardly extending flange 13.

The register 9 consists of a stationary frame 14 having outwardly extending flanges 15 and carrying shafts 16 provided with overlapping. shutters 17 which are adapted to be simultaneously opened and closed in the usual manner by suitable connection with an operating member 18.

The filtering device 10 consists of a frame 19 having outwardly extending flanges 20 and inwardly tapering sides, a cloth screen 21 and a removable band 21 adapted to fitthe tapered sides and retain the screen 21 between it and the frame.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, T have shown aconduit 22 formed by frame members 23 fitted into an opening 2-1 in the outer wall of a. building. The louver 6 fits over the front end of the conduit 22 and flange 13 is mounted between the upper frame member 23 and either the brick wall shown in Fig. 1 or a frame member 25 in the stucco building, shown in Fig. 2. The register 9 is mounted adjacent the inner end of the conduit by suitably securing the flanges 15 of the frame 14 to the members 23. A metal drip plate 26 is preferably secured to the bottom frame member 23.

In each of the above types of installation, I provide a box structure 27 adapted for mounting in an opening 28 in the inner wall of the building. The front side of this box structure includes transverse frame members 29 spaced apart to form an entrance opening 30 and air spaces 31. which air spaces are formed between said members 29 and metal siding 32. The entrance opening 30 forms a continuation of the conduit 22 and the filtering device 10 is removably mounted in this opening by means of clips 33 pivoted to the box and movable over the flanges 20 of the frame 19. The box structure 27 is provided with shelves 34 and a hinged door 35, not shown in Fig. 3, giving access to itsinterior.

In Fig. 6 T have shown an icing door36 mounted in the wall of a building and forming a closure for a passage 37 communicating with an opening 38 in the wall 39 of arefrigerator. A conduit-4:0 is formed in the door 36 and lined with frame members ll. The louver 8 is secured to the upper frame member 11 at ,the front of the opening 10, and the register 9 is mounted on the frame work adjacent the inner end of the conduit by suitably securing the flanges 15 of the frame 14 to the members 41. The metal drip plate 26 is also used in this construction. A frame 42 is secured to the inner side of the door 36 at the inner end of the conduit and the filtering device 10 is removably mounted on this frame by means of clips 33 similar to the clips 33.

Tn Fig. 7 T have shown a portion of a storage receptacle 13, such as an ice box or a kitchen cabinet, having an opening 44 in line with air passage 45 in the wall of the buildstructions. The register 9 is Secured to the frame 47 and disposed in the passage 45. A metal conduit section 48 having a flanged end 49 secured to the frame 47 telescopes within'the passage formed by the frame members 46 and a sealing member 50, of felt or other suitable material. secured to the members 46 seals the space between said members and the sides of the section 48. This telescoping arrangement permits inst-a-llations in buildings of different wall thickness.

In the foregoing constructions the louver 8 prevents rain or snow getting into the cool airpassage and any liability of entrance therein of animals attracted by the food within the storage compartment. The register. controlled from the inside of the dwelling, regulates the amount of air passing to the storage compartment, and the cloth screen prevents the passage of foreign matter and insects into the compartment.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not limited to any specific form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

'hat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination. of a food storage compartment within a building, a passage through the wall of the building for conducting outside air to said compartment, the

inner end of said passage forming a supporting frame, a register secured at the front side of said frame, a filter detachably secured to the rear side of said frame, and a through its outer portion. of a food storage compartment built into said recess and having an opening communicating with said passage. a filtering device having a flanged portion detachably secured to said compartment adjacent its opening and removable through said compartment, a register having a flanged portion secured between the outer wall of said compartment and the lining of said passage, and a louver atthe exposed end of the passage.

3. The combination with the. wall of a building having a recess in its inner portion and a passage leading from said recess through its outer portion, of a food storage compartment built into said recess and .hav-

ing an opening communicating with said passage, a filtering device having a flanged portion detachably vsecured to the wall of said compartment adjacent its opening, a register within the passage having a flanged portion interposed between the outer wall of said compartment. and the lining of said passage. a louver at the exposed end of the passage having a flange secured to the wall, and a drip plate in said passage extending from the register to the louver.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

EDWARD. RAY TOMPKINS. 

